Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Pokemon Legends Z-A
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2025
  • New Games for 2025
Don't miss these
Peach kisses Mario's nose in the ending of Super Mario 64
Super Mario Nintendo devs were so obsessed with Konami's legendary 1994 dating sim that they filled Super Mario 64's code with references to it
A toilet and a romance partner in Date Everything
Simulation Games I thought Date Everything was a silly little romance game about flirting with PC desks, but it's actually the best representation of love I've seen in games
Peak screenshot showing players climbing an icy cliff
Co-op Games The 25 best co-op games of all time
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart writer snuck a line into the RPG's epilogue to reference her actor's real-life relationship: "That's us!"
Best dating sims: a screenshot of the hero and Yosuga during Olympia Soirée.
Simulation Games The 10 best dating sims to play right now
A screenshot shows Caleb looking into the distance in Love and Deepspace
RPGs Evil otome game that tracks my period adds rail shooter where you murder Pokemon-style pets for love, and everyone's a lot more shirtless than you'd think
Hade 2 early access screenshots
Hades After 105 runs in Hades 2, I suddenly unlocked three huge side stories I thought were bugged and I guess I'll be here 'til launch
Riding around on a horse during winter in Stardew Valley
Simulation Games Best Stardew Valley gifts for all the bachelors and bachelorettes
The five love interests in Love and Deepspace smile against a starry night background
Mobile Gaming Silksong is powerful, but a new foe emerges at Gamescom: over 70 million horny otome game players – "Today is truly a momentous day"
Two chefs cooking on a boat with a seagull watching in the Nintendo Switch game Overcooked 2
Platforming Games Best two-player Switch games that let you team up with a friend or family member
Infinity Nikki
Open World Games Infinity Nikki devs call their crossover with Stardew Valley "a free love letter" to the farming sim following ConcernedApe's statement that he does such collabs as "a fan," not for money
Infinity Nikki screenshot showing a girl with a ruffled white dress and long pink hair sitting beside a small cat-like creature wearing a little yellow poncho
Simulation Games Working with Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone was "truly an honor," says Infinity Nikki dev after surprise crossover: "Eric was very thoughtful throughout the process"
Killer animatronic Freddy Fazbear stalks the streets in Five Night's at Freddy's 2
Movies Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about
A close up in The Alters
Survival Games "Yo this isn't Mass Effect, my guy, put the flirt gun down": Devs behind sci-fi survival game The Alters shoot down thirsty fans' requests to romance their clones
Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail Futures Unwritten Ultimate raid
Final Fantasy Final Fantasy 14 boss Naoki Yoshida might not have become a Square Enix dev if it weren't for a "jerk" childhood friend that accidentally taught him PvP by tricking him into being bad at 1983 Mario Bros.
  1. Games
  2. Action

Video game couples: the break-up notes

Features
By Justin Towell published 17 February 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Ouch...

Ouch...

After last week's Week of Love here on GamesRadar, we thought we'd briefly visit the flip-side. The course of true love never did run smooth, but sometimes you just have to accept the painful reality that some things don't last forever. Sniff.

So here are some break-up notes I personally wrested from the clutches of some sobbing game heroes. Don't worry, it's probably nothing some chocolates and a poem can't fix. And no, that's not going to be the next feature! Week of Love is officially OVER! As are these couples...

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
Peach is breaking up with Mario (in Super Mario 64)

Peach is breaking up with Mario (in Super Mario 64)

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
Pikachu is breaking up with Ash (in Pokmon)

Pikachu is breaking up with Ash (in Pokmon)

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
Amy's breaking up with Sonic (in Sonic the Hedgehog)

Amy's breaking up with Sonic (in Sonic the Hedgehog)

...Although he would argue they were never going out.

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
Kairi is breaking up with Sora (in Kingdom Hearts)

Kairi is breaking up with Sora (in Kingdom Hearts)

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
Ico is breaking up with Yorda (in Ico)

Ico is breaking up with Yorda (in Ico)

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
Reese is breaking up with Cyrus (in Animal Crossing)

Reese is breaking up with Cyrus (in Animal Crossing)

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
Nick is breaking up with Juliet (in Lollipop Chainsaw)

Nick is breaking up with Juliet (in Lollipop Chainsaw)

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
Daisy is breaking up with Dizzy (in Fantasy World Dizzy)

Daisy is breaking up with Dizzy (in Fantasy World Dizzy)

(Ugh, my childhood... say it ain't so, Daisy! Say it ain't so!)

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
Elena is breaking up with Nathan Drake (in Uncharted)

Elena is breaking up with Nathan Drake (in Uncharted)

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
Ms Pac-Man is breaking up with Pac-Man (in Pac-Man)

Ms Pac-Man is breaking up with Pac-Man (in Pac-Man)

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
Claris is breaking up with Elliot (in NiGHTS into Dreams)

Claris is breaking up with Elliot (in NiGHTS into Dreams)

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
It's over... no, really, that's the end of the feature.

It's over... no, really, that's the end of the feature.

Aww, c'mon, don't feel down! I know it wasn't the happiest of features (and I know at least one person who will be sad in the comments) but it's all fun and games. And if it's meant to be, they'll get back together, right? IIRC...

And if you're looking for more, check out Video game characters' Valentine's cards to each other and Video game characters' school report cards.

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
CATEGORIES
Android iPad iPhone PC Gaming Wii-u Nintendo PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms Mobile Gaming
PRODUCTS
Sonic Generations Lollipop Chainsaw Kingdom Hearts 3
Justin Towell
Justin Towell
Social Links Navigation

Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.

Read more
Peach kisses Mario's nose in the ending of Super Mario 64
Nintendo devs were so obsessed with Konami's legendary 1994 dating sim that they filled Super Mario 64's code with references to it
 
 
A toilet and a romance partner in Date Everything
I thought Date Everything was a silly little romance game about flirting with PC desks, but it's actually the best representation of love I've seen in games
 
 
Peak screenshot showing players climbing an icy cliff
The 25 best co-op games of all time
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart writer snuck a line into the RPG's epilogue to reference her actor's real-life relationship: "That's us!"
 
 
Best dating sims: a screenshot of the hero and Yosuga during Olympia Soirée.
The 10 best dating sims to play right now
 
 
A screenshot shows Caleb looking into the distance in Love and Deepspace
Evil otome game that tracks my period adds rail shooter where you murder Pokemon-style pets for love, and everyone's a lot more shirtless than you'd think
 
 
Latest in Action
Hollow Knight: Silksong needle master cutscene
Upgrading Hornet's weapon in Silksong always felt inconsistent, and now I know why: Team Cherry's special damage multipliers leave hits-to-kill all over the place
 
 
"If Gears 1 was Alien, the rest of the franchise was Aliens": Former Gears of War art director reckons the Xbox shooter franchise lost its horror edge over the years
 
 
GTA 4
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser couldn't kill GTA 4's Niko Bellic as fans needed to be able "to play forever," so he killed Red Dead Redemption's John Marston instead
 
 
Strange Man in Red Dead Redemption
After 15 years, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser reveals the meaning behind Red Dead Redemption's Strange Man: "He's a manifestation of your shadow, your karma, the devil"
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2 screenshot showing the silhouette of a man with a cowboy hat on horseback, a glowing sun seen behind him
Creating Red Dead Redemption 2 was "not that fun," Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser says, as it wasn't "coming together" and was "over budget so much I didn’t want to think about it"
 
 
Two bikers posing with a revolver and a motorbike in Grand Theft Auto 6 area Ambrosia
Dan Houser says Rockstar Games only attempted GTA London once in 26 years because the series is “so much about America” that “it wouldn’t really have worked in the same way elsewhere”
 
 
Latest in Features
Two nobles getting married in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
RPG fans stay winning: 2025 has been a critical hit for the genre, though I'm anticipating a GOTY bloodbath
 
 
Hades 2
I was one of the first to see Hades 2's true ending, and I don't know how I feel about Supergiant retconning the whole thing
 
 
The Outer Worlds 2 screenshot showing the protagonist in a green suit with a bow tie standing with companions Inez and Niles. The GamesRadar+ On the Rader interview banner is overlayed on top
I love that The Outer Worlds 2's Flaw system calls me out on my RPG behavior and then asks me to double-down on it: "Because flaws are optional, we knew we could actually push them a little bit harder"
 
 
On the Radar-branded The Outer Worlds 2 screenshot featuring Inez firing a rifle
The Outer Worlds 2 developers have one major combat tip: "Pick a lane and stick with it"
 
 
Arc Raiders
Arc Raiders' studio founder is an enemy health bar hater, saying they turn games into an "Excel sheet" and immersion is better than "answers served on a silver platter"
 
 
Players dropping into Battlefield Redsec in front of the circle of fire
Battlefield Redsec holds Warzone to the fire by leaning into tactical chaos, and I'm quickly warming up to EA's devilishly dangerous battle royale
 
 
  1. Spooktacular box art featuring a movie theater suffused with eerie green light
    1
    Spooktacular review: "This is the perfect family board game for Halloween"
  2. 2
    It’s hard to imagine there are many gamers who won’t enjoy this quick but tactical board game for 2 players
  3. 3
    The Outer Worlds 2 review: "The Fallout New Vegas creators have crafted a masterful space age RPG that's willing to play game master to my silliest decisions"
  4. 4
    Once Upon a Katamari review: "Time traveling cowboy adventures, ninja thievery, pirate battles, and more make this the most inventive evolution of the series yet"
  5. 5
    Jurassic World Evolution 3 review: "Far from a fossil, this park builder is one you'll keep coming back to, despite its flaws"
  1. Chainsaw Man
    1
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  2. 2
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  3. 3
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  4. 4
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  5. 5
    Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle review: "Roars past Mugen Train as Demon Slayer's best adventure yet"
  1. Liam Hemsworth as Geralt in The Witcher season 4
    1
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  2. 2
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  3. 3
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  4. 4
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"
  5. 5
    Gen V season 2 review: "As strong as the first season, if not stronger"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...